Author: Renée J. Schomp, Director, Napa Sonoma ADU Center
Figuring out where to even begin with a major construction project like an accessory dwelling unit can be a little overwhelming — and that’s why we launched our new ADU Feasibility Consults program.
The ADU Feasibility Consult entails three steps:
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Our ADU expert conducts background research on your parcel and the local rules in your city or county to determine whether your property is eligible to build an ADU. Usually, the answer is Yes!
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Our ADU expert conducts a socially-distant site visit with you on your property to discuss your goals in building an ADU and to identify site-specific characteristics of your parcel that will guide our ADU recommendations for you. The visit may be conducted virtually depending on current shelter-in-place rules.
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Our ADU expert will write up and give you an ADU Feasibility Report that details your unique ADU goals and our customized ADU recommendations for your parcel. It will explain the ramifications of your parcel’s characteristics and the local city or county ADU rules that apply to your parcel. It will also include concrete information and resources for you to take the next steps on your ADU journey!
During the pilot stage of the program the consults are 100% free of cost thanks to our nonprofit’s generous donors and supporters. After the pilot stage, we may ask homeowners who are financially able to to help defray the costs of the consult.
All we ask if you receive an ADU Feasibility Consult from us is that you agree to complete a few short surveys from us afterwards — one right after you receive the Report, and a couple more surveys in the months to come — so that we can learn more about your ADU journey so that we can continue to improve our nonprofit services to help more Napa and Sonoma County homeowners in the future. Other than that, you are free to do whatever you want on your ADU journey!
Head on over to our ADU Feasibility Consults webpage for a full list of FAQ’s, plus instructions to sign up for a consultation.
ADU Feasibility Consultations are provided for new ADU builds, not for assessing already existing, unpermitted ADUs. If you have an unpermitted ADU, your local jurisdiction will have a process for working with you to get your ADU up to code. And good news: A new state amnesty law went into effect Jan. 1, 2020 that may help! Please feel free to reach out to us at info@napasonomaadu.org with questions.
